historic highway
Craigantlet Hillclimb
A hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
7 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland
Newtownards
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Newtownards
Newtownards works well as a base: 10 minutes from Comber, 45km from Tollymore Forest Park.
Newtownards is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, with about 29,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Comber, about 6 km away.
Newtownards () referred to simply as Ards, is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles (16 km) east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. It is in the civil parish of Newtownards and the historic baronies of Ards Lower and Castlereagh Lower. Newtownards is inRead more
the Ards and North Down Borough. The population was 29,677 in the 2021 Census.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Newtownards?
Within an hour or so of Newtownards: Craigantlet Hillclimb (7 km), Ulster Transport Museum (10 km), Titanic Belfast (14 km), Carrickfergus Castle (15 km).
Are there any good drives near Newtownards?
The nearest famous roads are Craigantlet Hillclimb, Dundrod Circuit and Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road).
Where is Newtownards?
Newtownards is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Comber.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 29,363
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Northern Ireland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.5924, -5.6909
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Newtownards
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Ulster Transport Museum
Major transport museum at Cultra near Belfast, home to a gull-winged DeLorean DMC-12 built just miles away, Irish-built cars, locomotives and a renowned Titanic exhibition.
10 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Titanic Belfast
World-leading visitor attraction in a striking angular building on the exact spot where RMS Titanic was designed, built and launched in 1912.
14 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Carrickfergus Castle
One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland, guarding Belfast Lough for over 800 years from its commanding waterfront position.
15 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
The Gobbins
A dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.
21 km · about 25 min drive
historic highway
Dundrod Circuit
A 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
25 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Castle Ward (Winterfell)
The farmyard at Castle Ward on Strangford Lough was Winterfell's courtyard in season one; archery and banquet experiences run on site.
26 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Tollymore Forest Park
Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.
45 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Newtownards
- Right hereCraigantlet HillclimbA hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
- 21 kmThe GobbinsA dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.
- 25 kmDundrod CircuitA 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
- 48 kmSlieve Donard and the Mourne WallNorthern Ireland's highest peak at 850m, with the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall running over its summit.
- 51 kmMourne MountainsGranite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
- 57 kmCauseway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road)A cliff-edge road cut in the 1830s between Larne and Ballycastle, running under the Glens of Antrim with the Scottish coast in view.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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